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Related Concept Videos

Crystal Growth: Principles of Crystallization01:25

Crystal Growth: Principles of Crystallization

Crystallization is a phase transformation process in which crystals are precipitated from a supersaturated solution or formed from other sources. During crystallization, atoms or molecules arrange themselves into a well-defined, rigid crystal lattice to minimize energy.
Initiating crystallization involves manipulating the concentration of the solute and the temperature of the solution. Since crystal growth occurs when the ratio of concentration and solubility of the solute in the solvent – the...
Crystal Field Theory - Octahedral Complexes02:58

Crystal Field Theory - Octahedral Complexes

Crystal Field Theory
To explain the observed behavior of transition metal complexes (such as colors), a model involving electrostatic interactions between the electrons from the ligands and the electrons in the unhybridized d orbitals of the central metal atom has been developed. This electrostatic model is crystal field theory (CFT). It helps to understand, interpret, and predict the colors, magnetic behavior, and some structures of coordination compounds of transition metals.
CFT focuses on...
Ionic Crystal Structures02:42

Ionic Crystal Structures

Ionic crystals consist of two or more different kinds of ions that usually have different sizes. The packing of these ions into a crystal structure is more complex than the packing of metal atoms that are the same size.
Most monatomic ions behave as charged spheres, and their attraction for ions of opposite charge is the same in every direction. Consequently, stable structures for ionic compounds result (1) when ions of one charge are surrounded by as many ions as possible of the opposite...
Imperfections in Crystal Structure: Non-Stoichiometric Defects01:29

Imperfections in Crystal Structure: Non-Stoichiometric Defects

Non-stoichiometric defects refer to a type of defect in the crystal structure of a compound where the ratio of its constituent elements deviates from the ideal stoichiometric ratio. There are two main types of non-stoichiometric defects: metal excess defects and metal deficiency defects.Metal excess defects occur when there is a slight surplus of metal ions than what is required by the stoichiometric ratio of the compound. For example, heating a sodium chloride crystal in sodium vapor results...
Determination of Crystal Structures01:29

Determination of Crystal Structures

In the late 1800s, the revelation that light extended beyond visible wavelengths led to the discovery of X-rays by Wilhelm Roentgen. Recognized as high-energy electromagnetic radiation with short wavelengths, X-rays prompted exploration into their interaction with crystals. Max von Laue proposed in 1912 that the periodic arrangement of atoms, ions, or molecules in crystals would cause them to diffract X-rays, a hypothesis confirmed through experiments with copper sulfate and zinc sulfide...
Crystal Field Theory - Tetrahedral and Square Planar Complexes02:46

Crystal Field Theory - Tetrahedral and Square Planar Complexes

Tetrahedral Complexes
Crystal field theory (CFT) is applicable to molecules in geometries other than octahedral. In octahedral complexes, the lobes of the dx2−y2 and dz2 orbitals point directly at the ligands. For tetrahedral complexes, the d orbitals remain in place, but with only four ligands located between the axes. None of the orbitals points directly at the tetrahedral ligands. However, the dx2−y2 and dz2 orbitals (along the Cartesian axes) overlap with the ligands less than the dxy,...

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Estimation of Urinary Nanocrystals in Humans using Calcium Fluorophore Labeling and Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis
07:45

Estimation of Urinary Nanocrystals in Humans using Calcium Fluorophore Labeling and Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis

Published on: February 9, 2021

"Dangerous crystals".

Anthony L DeFranco1

  • 1Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA. anthony.defranco@ucsf.edu

Immunity
|November 14, 2008
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Uric acid crystals stimulate inflammation by activating the spleen tyrosine kinase (Syk) through membrane cholesterol. This study reveals a novel mechanism for immune cell activation by uric acid crystals.

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Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Cell Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Uric acid crystals are known potent stimulators of inflammation.
  • The precise mechanisms by which uric acid crystals activate immune cells remain largely unknown.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying uric acid crystal-induced immune cell activation.
  • To identify key signaling pathways involved in the inflammatory response to uric acid crystals.

Main Methods:

  • The study likely involved in vitro experiments using immune cells and uric acid crystals.
  • Techniques may include cell signaling assays, cholesterol manipulation, and kinase activity measurements.

Main Results:

  • Evidence suggests that uric acid crystals activate the spleen tyrosine kinase (Syk).
  • This activation appears to be mediated by interactions with membrane cholesterol.

Conclusions:

  • Uric acid crystals activate immune cells through a pathway involving Syk kinase.
  • Membrane cholesterol plays a critical role in mediating the inflammatory signaling initiated by uric acid crystals.